After three months of very little celestial goings on (well, aside from the eclipse) the solar system is finally treating us to a sparkling meteor shower. The Lyrids is the oldest recorded shower that’s still visible today, with recorded sightings dating way, way back to 687BCE.
And right now, you’re able to enjoy the same glorious display as our ancient ancestors – with the display peaking tonight (April 22-23). Here’s everything you need to know about the Lyrid meteor shower and how to see it.
What is the Lyrid meteor shower?
Meteor showers are made up of small chunks of debris from stuff like asteroids and comets. This particular one happens annually and comes from dust particles left behind by a comet called Thatcher, which is currently on a 422-year orbit of the sun.
From where we’re standing, when the Earth passes through the remnants, the dust trails look like shooting stars.
When will the Lyrids be visible in the UK?
It started on Sunday, April 14 and will continue for two weeks, until Tuesday, April 30.
When do they peak?
The Lyrids will hit their ‘maximum’ tonight and tomorrow, on Monday, April 22 and Tuesday, April 23. That’s when you’ll have the best chance of seeing them in all their glory.
How can I watch?
Like most other celestial illuminations, you’re best off watching from a dark site, away from light pollution and with an unobstructed view of the sky.
The best time to witness the shower is in the early morning. Royal Museums Greenwich advises that you ‘wait until after midnight when the radiant point, in the constellation of Lyra, will have risen in the east’.
Stargazers can expect to see bright, fast meteors shooting across the night sky at a rate of around five to 20 meteors an hour. They will all be fairly bright but keep an eye out for some more rare vivid ‘fireballs’. No need for a telescope!
If you want to take it really seriously, venture to one of these UK stargazing spots that have been crowned the very best in the world.
When’s the next meteor shower in the UK?
Don’t worry if you miss out, we’re being spoiled with meteor showers over the next few months. Up next is the Eta Aquariids which peaks on May 6. Then there’s the Alpha Capricornids and Delta Aquariids, which both peak on July 30, then Perseids, peaking August 12 and 13.
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